Wall transition molding

ABSTRACT

A wall molding has two grooves formed on opposite sides for receiving wall panels or interchangeable molding attachments. The body of the molding has a rear surface with grooves that engage a track attached to the wall. The molding also has a front surface with a decorative pattern formed thereon. Wall panels may be inserted into the grooves, thereby providing a smooth transition from wall panel surface to the other. In addition, an attachment may be inserted into one of the grooves and a wall panel in the other to provide an elegant transition between two wall surfaces that have different thicknesses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wall molding for covering a gap between two wall surfaces or for joining together wall surfaces with floor or ceiling surfaces.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

The variety of wall coverings and surface choices has increased dramatically as new and alternative materials are becoming more common. For example, wall panels made of composite materials such as fiber board and particle board paneling is becoming a popular alternative to drywall or wallpaper for residential and commercial construction. These panels are lightweight, modular, and easy to assemble and install. In addition, technologies used to produce laminate surfaces may be applied to these wall panels to produce wall panels that are laminated or wrapped with a wide variety of dëcor papers.

In particular, when wall paneling is installed, it is often necessary to leave an air gap between the wall panel and the wall itself. To accomplish this, small strips of wood or other material are placed between the panel and the wall to maintain the space.

With such a wide variety of wall panels available, it is also necessary to have moldings that are as easy to use, install and assemble as the wall panels themselves. In particular, related art moldings, such as crown moldings, chair rails, and baseboards often require nailing through the wall surface. In addition, because the wall paneling is spaced away from the wall, it becomes complicated to install a related art molding on top of the wall panel. What is needed in the art is a molding that covers the gap between walls and other surfaces without requiring nailing or otherwise damaging the wall panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to wall transition molding that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a wall molding that can transition between a variety of wall surfaces of varying thicknesses.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a wall molding system including attachments that may be interchanged to suit construction or decorative requirements.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a wall molding that also serves to maintain the space, or air gap, between the wall and the paneling.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a molding for transitioning between building surfaces includes a body having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being opposite one another; a first groove formed into the first side and extending into the body; a second groove formed into the second side and extending into the body; and said first groove receiving a wall panel therein, wherein the grooves may extend into the molding to the same or to different depths.

In another aspect of the present invention, a wall covering system, includes a track attached fixedly to a wall; a molding body having at least a front decorative surface opposite a rear surface, a first side opposite a second side, and said first and second sides being adjacent to and between the front and rear surfaces; at least one support groove in the rear surface to receive said track; a first groove formed in the first side extending into the interior of the molding body; a second groove formed in the second side extending into the interior of the molding body; and a wall panel inserted into one of the first groove or the second groove.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a molding according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a molding according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1C and 1D illustrate alternative embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A-2C are cross-sectional views of moldings according to further embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3A-3B are cross-sectional views of molding attachments according to further embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the present invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1A, in this embodiment, molding 100 includes a front surface 102 that is wrapped or laminated with a dëcor paper intended to match or otherwise complement the design of the wall surface. In various aspects of this and the below embodiments, the front surface 102 can be shaped to have a variety of relieved surfaces or textures.

The body of molding 100 includes a first or upper groove 103 and a second or lower groove 104 formed into opposite first and second sides, respectively. In this exemplary embodiment, both of the grooves 103 and 104 are wide enough to accommodate the thickness of the wall panels 110 and 111, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the grooves may have different widths than each other, depending on the application or the environment in which the molding is to be used. In addition, both of the grooves 103 and 104 extend deeply into the interior of the molding to accommodate variations in the depths to which the wall panel 110 above and the wall panel 111 below may extend into the molding 100.

Furthermore, the grooves 103 and 104 of the molding 100 also serve to maintain a space or air gap 112 between the panels 110 and 111 and the wall 113, respectively. Because the molding 100 maintains the space 112 between the panels 110, 111 and the wall 113 via the grooves 103, 104, respectively, there is no need to use a wood strip or shim to separate the panels from the wall.

When used in a setting such as that illustrated in FIG. 1A, the molding functions as a chair rail. As is clearly illustrated, the molding not only provides a wall transition, it also serves to maintain the space between the panel and the wall without requiring additional materials. Other applications are contemplated as well.

For example, in a further embodiment, the molding 100 includes grooves 106 formed into the rear surface designed to engage a support member, in this case a track 105, attached to the wall. In alternative embodiments, the track 105 may snap, click, slide or otherwise grip the groove 106 to hold the molding in place, and it may require only one groove 106, or more than two grooves 106. Because the track 105 holds the wall molding 100 in place, the use of nails or other fasteners to attach the molding to the wall that would penetrate through the molding and the wall panels is avoided. Further embodiments include attaching the molding to the wall with screws or glue, as illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1D. The present invention contemplates using any of a variety of fastening or attaching means to hold the molding to the wall, and is not limited to those embodiments illustrated.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2A. In this embodiment, rather than the wall panel 111 being placed in the groove 104, an interchangeable molding attachment 200 is fitted snugly into the groove 104 to finish off the decorative surface on the front of the molding. A wall panel 110 is inserted into the upper groove 103 as in the first exemplary embodiment. In this setting, the molding 100 with the attachment 200 inserted into groove 104 serves as a chair rail between walls above and below that molding 100 that have different depths.

Specifically, this arrangement, with the attachment 200 includes a tongue 201 that fits snugly into the groove 104 and is held in place by friction or, in the alternative, glue or other adhesive. The attachment 200 inserted into groove 104, may be used as a chair rail in settings where the wall surface above the molding extends further out from the wall as with a wall panel, for example, while the wall surface below the molding is a painted or wallpapered surface, thereby transitioning smoothly and elegantly between wall surfaces of varying thickness or distance from the underlying wall. In various aspects of this embodiment, the attachment 200 may be wrapped or laminated with a dëcor paper that matches or complements the wall panel.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B, the molding 100 may function as a ceiling molding to transition from the wall to the ceiling. In this embodiment, the tongue 201 of attachment 200 fits into the upper groove 103. A wall panel 110 is inserted into the upper groove 103 as discussed in the first exemplary embodiment. Used in this manner, the molding 100 with the attachment 200 may function as a ceiling molding. In addition, this arrangement may also be used for a chair rail in setting where the wall surface below the molding extends further out than the wall surface above the molding, thus transitioning smoothly and elegantly between wall surfaces of varying thickness.

In a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2C, the molding is used without the attachment as a baseboard, positioned at the bottom of the wall near the floor. It is also understood, though not illustrated, that an attachment with an appropriate shape may also be included in the lower groove 104 when the molding 100 is used as a baseboard.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate alternate shapes for the attachment. In FIG. 3A, when the tongue 201 of the attachment 202 is inserted into groove 103 of the molding 100, the attachment 202 has a portion 204 which extends generally diagonally beyond the front surface 102 of the molding 100, thereby providing a crown molding shape to transition from a wall surface inserted into the groove 104 to the ceiling 205.

FIG. 3B illustrates an attachment 206, which is intended to continue the angle on the front or decorative surface 102 of the molding 100. It is understood that any attachment shape that has a tongue that can be inserted into the grooves 103 or 104 of the molding 100 is contemplated by this invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A molding for transitioning between building surfaces, comprising: a body having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being opposite one another; a first groove formed into the first side and extending into the body; a second groove formed into the second side and extending into the body; and said first groove receiving a wall panel therein.
 2. The molding of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of the first and second grooves are substantially parallel.
 3. The molding of claim 1, further comprising: an attachment having a tongue; said second groove receiving said tongue.
 4. The molding of claim 1, further comprising: a decorative surface having a decorative pattern thereon; a rear surface being adjacent and between the first and second sides; said rear surface having at least one narrow groove formed therein; and a support member attached to a building surface, wherein said narrow groove receives said support member.
 5. A wall covering system, comprising: a molding body fixedly attached to a wall, said molding body having at least a front decorative surface opposite a rear surface, a first side opposite a second side, and said first and second sides being adjacent to and between the front and rear surfaces; at least one support groove in the rear surface to receive said track; a first groove formed in the first side extending into the interior of the molding body; a second groove formed in the second side extending into the interior of the molding body; and a wall panel inserted into one of the first groove or the second groove, wherein said wall panel is separated from the wall.
 6. The wall covering system of claim 5, comprising: an attachment having a tongue; and the tongue of said attachment inserted into the other of the first groove or the second groove.
 7. The wall covering system of claim 5, wherein the tongue of the attachment is held in the other of the first groove or the second groove by friction alone. 